Fishing Reel with Incremental Metering System and Modular Balancing Weights

ABSTRACT

A fly-fishing reel having an integrated incremental meter device along with a modular weight system for customizing the weight of the fly-fishing reel in order for an angler to use the fly-fishing reel with a variety of fly rods and still maintain a desired balance point. The modular weight system allows the balance point of the rod and fly-fishing reel to be adjusted. The incremental metering device is adapted for keeping a tally of selected data, such as, though not limited to the number of fish caught or released.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/477,007, filed on Mar. 27, 2017, which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a fishing reel. More particularly, it relatesto a fly-fishing reel having an integrated incremental meter device forkeeping a tally along with a modular weight system for customizing theweight of the fly-fishing reel.

2. Description of the Related Art

The sport of fishing has developed with technology to improveperformance and reduce weight of components as well as a focus onconservation and artisanship. Specifically, a focus on catch and releaseto help conserve native species of fish is increasingly popular. As willbe appreciated by those who enjoy and are skilled in the art of fishing,particularly fly fishing, it is desirable to balance the rod and reel atthe grip in the fisherman's hand. It is also desirable to catch andrelease fish to preserve them and to keep track of the day's catch. Theattached invention discloses an incremental metering device integratedinto the fishing reel to tally fish caught. In addition, this inventionalso includes the ability to precisely match the performance of afishing reel with the rod to which it is attached. More specifically,artisan fishing rods made of bamboo and other materials are oftenheavier than state-of-the-art carbon or fiberglass rods and not wellbalanced when coupled to modern compact and lightweight fishing reels.However, it remains desirable to have a small diameter reel for manyfishing situations. These two features create a reel that addresses twoneeds for the modern fisherman.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fly-fishing reel of the present invention includes an integratedincremental meter integrated into the reel mount with a magnifiedviewing window and detent alignment for incrementally advancing themeter in order to keep a tally of selected data, such as the number offish caught/released, the number of miles hiked to a selected fishingspot, days spent fishing, or other data the angler may wish to tally.Further, internal to the reel, several removable weights allow the userto increase or decrease the total weight of a compact diameter reel tobalance the rod to the fisherman's preference. This is particularlyvaluable when used with custom rods or artisan rods that are typicallyheavier than carbon or fiberglass. As will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art, these heavier reels require a larger diameter, andthus heavier, reel to maintain a desired balance point. However, it isoften desirable to use a smaller diameter, more compact, reel. Thedevice of the present invention utilizes a modular weight system forcustomizing the weight of the fly-fishing reel in order for an angler touse the fly-fishing reel with a variety of fly rods and still maintain adesired balance point. In this regard, by selectively altering theweight of the fly-fishing reel with the modular weight system, thebalance point of the rod with the fly-fishing reel of the presentinvention mounted thereon can be adjusted. The fishing-reel of thepresent invention further includes a line retainer clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description of the invention readtogether with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the fly-fishing reel, having anintegrated incremental meter device and modular balancing weights, ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the fly-fishing reel illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 2B is a further partially exploded view of the fly-fishing reelillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the inner surface of the spool of thefly-fishing reel illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the fly-fishing reel illustratedin FIG. 1 in which the spool has been removed from the frame and innerarbor;

FIG. 5 is a further partially exploded view of the fly-fishing reelillustrated in FIG. 1 in which the spool has been removed from the frameand inner arbor;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view of the fly-fishing reel illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the fly-fishing reel illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 8A is a top plan view of the fly-fishing reel illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 8B is a top plan view of a fly-fishing reel utilizing an electronicincremental metering assembly;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are right side elevation views of exemplary embodimentsof decorative inlays for the frame of the fly-fishing reel illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the fly-fishing reel illustrated inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a rod and reel assembly illustrating adesired balance point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a fly-fishing reel 10 having an incrementalmetering device for keeping a tally of selected data. Fly-fishing reel10 further includes a modular weight system integrated into fly-fishingreel 10 in a simple, readily adjustable, and compact manner. FIGS. 1-10illustrate fly-fishing reel 10, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. As will be discussed in greater detail below, themodular weight system for customizing the weight of fly-fishing reel 10allows an angler to use fly-fishing reel 10 with a variety of fly rods,of various lengths and constructed from a variety of materials, andstill maintain a desired balance point. The balance point relationshipof fly-fishing reel 10 and the fly rod 15 is illustrated schematicallyin FIG. 11. As those skilled in the art will recognize, this balancepoint 20 shifts along the length of the handle 25 and/or fly rod 15 asthe weight of fly-fishing reel 10 changes, the length of the fly rod 15changes, and/or the weight of the fly rod 15 changes. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate the fact that the weight of fly rod 15 is afactor of both the length of fly rod 15 and the material from which flyrod 15 is manufactured. As illustrated in FIG. 11, and as alluded toabove, it is desirable to balance fly-fishing reel 10 against theweight, and length, of fly rod 15. And, it is desirable for this balancepoint 20 to coincide with the forward portion of handle 25.

Fly-fishing reel 10 of the present invention utilizes a modular,interchangeable weighting system in order to allow the user to balanceand match fly-fishing reel 10 to wood, carbon, or fiber glass rods ofdiffering lengths and weights. While the present invention is describedherein as a fly-fishing reel, there is no intention on the part of theinventor herein to limit the invention to fly-fishing but ratherencompasses and could be utilized in conjunction with other types offishing reels. While the present invention is not intended to be limitedto a particular size fishing reel, in an exemplary embodiment,fly-fishing reel 10 is a small, compact reel. As will be recognized bythose skilled in the art, fly-fishing reel 10 includes a reel foot,defined herein as hanger plate 30, which engages the reel seat (notshown) of the fly-rod 15. Fly-fishing reel 10 further includes a frame40 having an inner surface 45, a spool 50 having an arbor 60, a lineguard 50, and a handle 70, which, as will be recognized by those skilledin the art, allows the user to wind the spool 50.

The ability to adjust the weight of fly-fishing reel 10 and therebyadjust the balance point 20, allows the user to use compact, smallerdiameter reels with longer and heavier rods. The number and size of themodular weights can be varied. In this regard, in an exemplaryembodiment, fly-fishing reel 10, utilizes at least two removableweights, defined for purposes of illustration herein as an outercounterweight 100 and an inner counterweight 110. In an exemplaryembodiment, outer counterweight 100 and an inner counterweight 110 arein a concentric relationship and are removably securable to the frame40, preferably to the inner surface 45 of the frame 40, by means ofthreaded fasteners 120. Further, the fact that outer counterweight 100and an inner counterweight 110 are removably securable to the innersurface 45 of frame 40 allows the user to increase or decrease the totalweight of a compact diameter fly-fishing reel 10 to balance the rod tothe fisherman's preference. As stated above, the number of modularweights is variable and can be increased. This is particularly valuablewhen used with custom rods that are heavier than carbon or fiberglassand a small diameter fly-fishing reel 10 is desired. The weightingsystem could be discrete weights or fill material such as powder-basedweight, a dense liquid weight, beads, magnets, wire-shaped weight etc.In an exemplary embodiment, the modular weights are different sizes,define arcuate circular segments and define substantially concentriccounterweights, i.e. outer counterweight 100 and an inner counterweight110. This arrangement allows four different weight combinations to beutilized thus allowing for greater adjustment of a preferred balancepoint. In this regard, and in order of lightest to heaviestcombinations, fly-fishing reel 10 could be utilized alone; without anadditional counterweight; fly-fishing reel 10 could be utilized withonly the inner counter weight 110; fly-fishing reel 10 could be utilizedwith only the outer counterweight 100; or fly-fishing reel 10 could beutilized with both outer counterweight 100 and an inner counterweight110 as illustrated in the Figures. Further, it will be appreciated thatcounterweights 100 and 110 could be made from various dense metals suchas brass, lead, palladium, tungsten, or platinum. It will also beappreciated that counterweights 100 and 110 could be split such thatfour arcuate counterweights are provided for greater variability ofweight combinations. Additionally, fly-fishing reel 10 further includesa front and rear line retainer clip 80 secured to the base of hangerplate 30 for securing the fishing line when not in use.

The incremental metering assembly 150 shown in the Figures is, in anexemplary embodiment, a mechanical device. The incremental meteringassembly 150 is comprised of an incremental meter wheel 160 havingnumeric indicia 165, detent ball bearings 175 and springs 185 adaptedfor detent alignment for positioning the meter wheel 160, and amagnifier lens 195 adapted to make selected numeric indicia 165 easierto read. The incremental meter assembly 150 is integrated into thehanger plate 30 with a viewing window defined by meter lens 195.Incremental metering assembly 150 could incorporate a single incrementalmetering wheel 160 or could incorporate multiple dials for tallyingdifferent data sets. The incremental metering assembly 150 can also beused for tracking data other than fish caught such as miles walked, daysspent fishing, etc. Further, the incremental meter system could also beelectronic. In this regard, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, fishing reel 10′includes an incremental metering assembly that utilizes an electronicmodule 210 including an integrated circuit that is adapted to respond toadapted to selectively actuated up button 215 or selectively actuateddown button 220 and display a tally that is adjusted up or down anddisplay digital numeric indicia 225.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that fly-fishing reel10 of the present invention also includes an adjustable, variable dragproviding fine adjustment across a wide dynamic range of drag. In thisregard, fishing-reel 10 utilizes a click and pawl variable drag systemhaving a directional pawl cam 275, a drag gear 280, at least a pair ofthrust bearings 285 and a cork washer 290. The directional pawl cam 275engages drag gear 280. The pawl cam 275 is adapted to provide compacthigh-load drag resistance in one direction. Further, it will beappreciated that it is desirable to be able to reverse the take-up reeldirection in order to accommodate both right- and left-hand anglers. Inthis regard, by removing screws 295 and reversing pawl cam 275 andre-securing the pawl cam 275 to the inner surface 45 of the frame, thetake-up reel direction can be reversed. A wire clicker 300 engages aclicker gear 305 on the inner surface of the spool 50 and providesaudible click in both directions. The spring loaded drag knob 310provides fine adjustment and large dynamic range drag.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description ofseveral embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have beendescribed in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant torestrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to suchdetail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled inthe art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limitedto the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, andillustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures maybe made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope ofapplicant's general inventive concept.

Having thus described the aforementioned invention, what is claimed is:1. A fishing reel for tallying incremental data and adapted to besecured to a selected fishing rod, said fishing reel comprising: a framehaving an inner surface and an outer surface; a spool carried by saidframe; a handle adapted for winding said spool; a modular weight systemadapted to be removably installed on said fishing reel, said modularweight system including a plurality of interchangeable weights, wherebya balance point associated with a combination of said fishing reel andsaid selected fishing rod is readily adjustable; a hanger plate adaptedfor securing said fishing reel to said fishing rod; and an incrementalmetering assembly in cooperation with a combination of said fishing reeland said selected fishing rod, said incremental metering assembly beingadapted to tally at least a first selected data set incrementally. 2.The fishing reel of claim 1 wherein said fishing reel is adapted for usewith a fly-fishing rod.
 3. The fishing reel of claim 1 wherein saidincremental metering assembly is integrated into a reel mount such thatit is secured to said hanger plate and further wherein said incrementalmetering assembly includes an incremental meter wheel having numericindicia adapted for keeping a tally; at least one detent ball incooperation with a spring adapted for detent alignment for positioningsaid incremental meter wheel and a lens adapted and aligned for viewinga selected numeric indicia.
 4. The fishing reel of claim 3 wherein saidlens is adapted for magnifying said selected numeric indicia.
 5. Thefishing reel of claim 3 wherein said incremental metering assemblyincludes a plurality of incremental meter wheels for keeping tally of aplurality of selected data.
 6. The fishing reel of claim 1 wherein saidincremental metering assembly is adapted to be integrated into saidfishing reel.
 7. The fishing reel of claim 1 wherein said incrementalmetering assembly is adapted to be secured to said fishing rod.
 8. Thefishing reel of claim 1 wherein said incremental metering assembly isintegrally attached to said hanger plate.
 9. The fishing reel of claim 1wherein said incremental metering assembly is defined by an electronicincremental meter including circuitry adapted to respond to at least aselectively actuated up button and a selectively actuated down buttonand display a tally using digital numeric indicia.
 10. The fishing reelof claim 1 wherein said plurality of interchangeable counterweights areremovably securable to said frame of said fishing reel, wherein each ofsaid plurality of interchangeable weights define arcuate circularsegments and are in a concentric relationship to one another.
 11. Thefishing reel of claim 1 wherein said plurality of interchangeableweights are removably securable to an inner surface of said frame,wherein each of said plurality of interchangeable weights define arcuatecircular segments and are in a concentric relationship to one another,and further are formed from a material selected from a group consistingof brass, lead, palladium, tungsten, and platinum.
 12. The fishing reelof claim 1 wherein said plurality of interchangeable weights areselected from a group consisting of solid weight, powder-based weight, adense liquid weight, bead, magnet, and wire-shaped weight.
 13. Thefishing reel of claim 1 wherein said fishing reel further comprises anadjustable, variable drag including a drag gear, a directional pawl camremovably secured to said inner surface of said frame and adapted toengage said drag gear, and a spring loaded drag knob adapted foradjusting said adjustable, variable drag.
 14. A fishing reel fortallying incremental data and adapted to be secured to a selectedfishing rod, said fishing reel comprising: a frame having an innersurface and an outer surface; a spool carried by said frame; a handleadapted for winding said spool; a modular weight system adapted to beremovably installed on said fishing reel, said modular weight systemincluding a plurality of interchangeable weights, whereby a balancepoint associated with a combination of said fishing reel and saidselected fishing rod is readily adjustable; a hanger plate adapted forsecuring said fishing reel to said fishing rod; and an incrementalmetering assembly in cooperation with a combination of said fishing reeland said selected fishing rod, said incremental metering assemblyintegrated into a reel mount such that it is secured to said hangerplate and further wherein said incremental metering assembly includes anincremental meter wheel having numeric indicia adapted for keeping atally; at least one detent ball in cooperation with a spring adapted fordetent alignment for positioning said incremental meter wheel and a lensadapted and aligned for viewing a selected numeric indicia. saidincremental metering assembly being adapted to tally at least a firstselected data set incrementally.
 15. The fishing reel of claim 14wherein said fishing reel is adapted for use with a fly-fishing rod. 16.The fishing reel of claim 14 wherein said fishing reel further comprisesan incremental metering assembly in cooperation with a combination ofsaid fishing reel and said selected fishing rod, said incrementalmetering assembly being adapted to tally at least a first selected dataset incrementally.
 17. The fishing reel of claim 16 wherein saidincremental metering assembly is integrated into a reel mount such thatit is secured to said hanger plate and further wherein said incrementalmetering assembly includes an incremental meter wheel having numericindicia adapted for keeping a tally; at least one detent ball incooperation with a spring adapted for detent alignment for positioningsaid incremental meter wheel and a lens adapted and aligned for viewinga selected numeric indicia.
 18. The fishing reel of claim 17 whereinsaid lens is adapted for magnifying said selected numeric indicia. 19.The fishing reel of claim 16 wherein said incremental metering assemblyincludes a plurality of incremental meter wheels for keeping tally of aplurality of selected data.
 20. The fishing reel of claim 16 whereinsaid incremental metering assembly is defined by an electronicincremental meter.
 21. The fishing reel of claim 14 wherein saidplurality of interchangeable weights are selected from a groupconsisting of solid weight, powder-based weight, a dense liquid weight,bead, magnet, and wire-shaped weight.
 22. The fishing reel of claim 1wherein said fishing reel further comprises an adjustable, variable dragincluding a drag gear, a directional pawl cam removably secured to saidinner surface of said frame and adapted to engage said drag gear, and aspring loaded drag knob adapted for adjusting said adjustable, variabledrag.
 23. A fishing reel for tallying incremental data and adapted to besecured to a selected fishing rod, said fishing reel comprising: a framehaving an inner surface and an outer surface; a spool carried by saidframe; a handle adapted for winding said spool; an adjustable, variabledrag including a drag gear, a directional pawl cam removably secured tosaid inner surface of said frame and adapted to engage said drag gear,and a spring loaded drag knob adapted for adjusting said adjustable,variable drag. a modular weight system adapted to be removably installedon said fishing reel, said modular weight system including a pluralityof interchangeable weights, wherein each of said plurality ofinterchangeable weights defines an arcuate circular segment, whereby abalance point associated with a combination of said fishing reel andsaid selected fishing rod is readily adjustable; a hanger plate adaptedfor securing said fishing reel to said fishing rod; and an incrementalmetering assembly in cooperation with a combination of said fishing reeland said selected fishing rod, said incremental metering assemblyintegrated into a reel mount such that it is secured to said hangerplate and further wherein said incremental metering assembly includes anincremental meter wheel having numeric indicia adapted for keeping atally; at least one detent ball in cooperation with a spring adapted fordetent alignment for positioning said incremental meter wheel and a lensadapted and aligned for viewing a selected numeric indicia. saidincremental metering assembly being adapted to tally at least a firstselected data set incrementally.
 24. The fishing reel of claim 23wherein said plurality of interchangeable weights are constructed from amaterial selected from a group consisting of brass, lead, palladium,tungsten, or platinum.
 25. The fishing reel of claim 23 wherein saidplurality of interchangeable weights are selected from a groupconsisting of solid weight, powder-based weight, a dense liquid weight,bead, magnet, and wire-shaped weight.